Segment Disclosures - Revenues and Assets by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Disclosure
Total revenues		$ 654,270	$ 657,499	$ 1,957,056	$ 1,874,904
Real estate and related assets held for sale, net		372,968		372,968		$ 314,126
Total assets	[1]	21,188,545		21,188,545		21,449,849
Goodwill		50,346		50,346		50,346
Operating segment
Segment Disclosure
Total revenues		654,270	657,499	1,957,056	1,874,904
Gross assets		21,374,248		21,374,248		21,012,691
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(3,064,520)		(3,064,520)		(2,769,744)
Total assets		18,309,728		18,309,728		18,242,947
Operating segment | SH NNN
Segment Disclosure
Total revenues		104,262	105,405	319,989	317,532
Gross assets		5,097,301		5,097,301		5,092,443
Goodwill		21,000		21,000
Operating segment | SHOP
Segment Disclosure
Total revenues		170,739	155,472	500,704	360,002
Gross assets		3,476,136		3,476,136		3,195,384
Goodwill		9,000		9,000
Operating segment | Life science
Segment Disclosure
Total revenues		90,847	86,140	269,994	255,100
Gross assets		3,983,929		3,983,929		3,905,137
Operating segment | Medical office
Segment Disclosure
Total revenues		113,653	108,898	331,881	307,881
Gross assets		3,481,174		3,481,174		3,436,884
Goodwill		11,000		11,000
Operating segment | Other
Segment Disclosure
Total revenues		51,053	52,985	166,774	179,649
Total assets		1,598,092		1,598,092		1,787,579
Goodwill		6,000		6,000
Operating segment | QCP
Segment Disclosure
Total revenues		123,716	$ 148,599	367,714	$ 454,740
Gross assets		5,335,708		5,335,708		5,382,843
Goodwill		3,000		3,000
Other non-segment
Segment Disclosure
Total assets		$ 907,757		$ 907,757		$ 1,105,197

[1] HCP, Inc.’s consolidated total assets and total liabilities at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include certain assets of variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of the related VIE. The VIE creditors do not have recourse to HCP, Inc. Total assets at September 30, 2016 include VIE assets as follows: buildings and improvements $3.4 billion; development costs $23 million; land $324 million; accumulated depreciation and amortization $629 million; investments in unconsolidated joint ventures $14 million; accounts receivable $19 million; cash $59 million; restricted cash $27 million; intangible assets, net $177 million; and other assets, net $68 million. Total assets at December 31, 2015 include VIE assets as follows: buildings and improvements $3.4 billion; development costs $54 million; land $327 million; accumulated depreciation and amortization $537 million; investments in unconsolidated joint ventures $14 million; accounts receivable $19 million; cash $61 million; restricted cash $21 million; intangible assets, net $204 million; and other assets, net $63 million. Total liabilities at September 30, 2016 include VIE liabilities as follows: mortgage debt $568 million; intangible liabilities, net $9 million; accounts payable and accrued liabilities $127 million and deferred revenue $26 million. Total liabilities at December 31, 2015 include VIE liabilities as follows: mortgage debt $589 million; intangible liabilities, net $10 million; accounts payable and accrued liabilities $107 million and deferred revenue $19 million. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.